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ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - After starting the season 9-0, the eighth-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team suffered its first loss Saturday night, falling by a 3-1 count at No. 18 Sonoma State.

Scores from The Wolves' Den were 22-25, 25-22, 25-20 and 25-23 in favor of SSU. UCSD dropped to 9-1 overall and 1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), while Sonoma State improved to 8-2 and 1-1.

A night after hitting .309, UCSD managed just a .203 clip, posting 50 kills with 21 errors in 143 attacks. SSU swung at an impressive .345, registering 66 kills and 17 errors in 142 attempts. The Seawolves were also relentless on defense, out-digging the Tritons, 68-53.

UC San Diego held a distinct advantage from the service line, holding an 8-3 edge in aces. Seven different Tritons had at least one ace.

For the second-straight night, setter Heidi Sierks recorded a double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs. Her assist total was a career-high.

SSU's Caylie Seitz dominated play, hitting a stellar .565 with a career-high 29 kills, which broke the school's record for kills in a four-set match. She finished with 32 points, adding two solo blocks and two block assists. Nicole Gragnola had a match-high 22 digs.

"Sonoma played a great match," said UCSD head coach Ricci Luyties. "We weren't able to slow down Caylie Seitz and they made several crucial defensive plays as well. Sometimes, you have to accept that it was the other team's night."

UCSD got its ninth-straight win Friday with a 3-0 victory at San Francisco State, equaling the program's best-ever start to a season.

In the midst of a seven-match road swing, the team's longest of the season, the Tritons play a trifecta of away contests next week. They will be at No. 22 Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 25, at Cal State Stanislaus on Sept. 27 and at Chico State on Sept. 28.